Make movies, not war

Friday, February 09, 2007 |
by Staff Writer

Three-time Academy Award-winning American film director and producer and one of the world’s wealthiest Jews, Stephen Spielberg, is attempting to present his own efforts for peace. Spielberg has a new film project: A joint Israeli-Palestinian film promoting coexistence.

Upon arrival in Israel to promote the film, Spielberg will distribute 100 small video cameras to Israelis and 100 to Palestinians. Their assignment will be to document their daily lives, which Spielberg will combine the footage for his new film.

Spielberg met with Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman and told him of his plans to produce this film and the status of his work.

Spielberg had plans to launch the project last summer when he was to receive an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, but cancelled his trip due to the war in Lebanon.

“The youngsters will be busy filming instead of throwing Molotov bottles and they will get a chance to see how the other half lives,” said Spielberg. “Furthermore they will come to realize that we are all human beings who wish to live in peace. I want you to make movies not war.”

Gillerman expressed his approval of the project.

“I believe the project is a way for creating co-productions and interpersonal ties between Israelis and the Palestinians,” he said. “I want the 200 young cameramen to form the nucleus of something much bigger.”

Spielberg is looking into the possibility of establishing an Israeli-Palestinian film academy in Tel Aviv and Ramallah.

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